My Grocery Budget 2018 - April Update

Last month I did a double grocery budget and some serious marathon shopping to take advantage of sales and markdown bargains I found and really stocked up the freezers and pantry.  This month I switched back to my usual hunter/gatherer mode and tried to only buy items we needed or wanted on sale and markdown without purchasing anything at regular price if I could help it.  It meant small shops at multiple stores to accomplish that, but I didn't mind at all.

Marked down beef and butter on sale for $1.99 a pound

I spent $5.55 of our monthly $25 non food budget on the usual cat food and litter.  Nothing too terribly exciting there.  The remaining $19.45 will be added to last month's surplus and rolled forward to use in May.

This Fred Meyer haul was loaded with markdowns and super sales

Cheeses and pasta sauces were on 99¢ each!

I was able, once again, to find some terrific markdowns on meat and added that to our freezer stash as well as to our meal plans during the month.  I stocked up on a killer deal on packages of grated cheese as well as jars of pasta sauce for only 99¢ each.  I topped off some of our dried herbs and spices by purchasing from the bulk bins at Winco.  I save so much by doing that.

The big Winco haul - $68!

This is the breakdown of what I purchased for food:

Groceries		$$$
Canned tomatoes (3)		1.77	Sale	Albertsons
Salsa		1.39	Sale	Albertsons
Seasoning packets (6)		1.50		Albertsons
Blackberries		1.00	Digital Coupon	Albertsons
Weiners (2)		1.98	Sale	Albertsons
Steak		5.03	Markdown	Albertsons
Steak		10.23	Markdown	Albertsons
Steak		3.23	Markdown	Albertsons
Steak		3.31	Markdown	Albertsons
Steak		4.61	Markdown	Albertsons
Olive oil		6.99		Trader Joes
Almonds		5.99		Trader Joes
Turkey burgers - 4ct  (2)		5.98		Trader Joes
Sour cream dip (2)		2.38	Markdown	Albertsons
Ribeye steak		5.33	Markdown	Albertsons
Steak		3.42	Markdown	Albertsons
Ground beef		4.19	Markdown	Albertsons
Blackberries (2)		1.98	Sale	Fred Meyer
Graham pie crusts (3)		2.97	Markdown	Fred Meyer
Cheese (5)		4.95	Digital Coupon	Fred Meyer
Pasta sauce (5)		4.95	Digital Coupon	Fred Meyer
Broccoli		3.99	Sale	Fred Meyer
Milk - 1/2 gal		0.79	Sale	Fred Meyer
Yogurt		1.99	Markdown	Fred Meyer
Lettuce mix		1.89		Fred Meyer
Dinner rolls		1.29	Markdown	Fred Meyer
Bagels		1.29	Markdown	Fred Meyer
Butter (2)		3.98	Sale/Coupon	Albertsons
Almond flour		4.00	Bulk	WinCo
Dried basil		0.56	Bulk	WinCo
Salt		0.78	Bulk	WinCo
Flax see meal		0.88	Bulk	WinCo
Garlic powder		2.86	Bulk	WinCo
Zucchinni		0.69		WinCo
Squash		0.52		WinCo
Cucumber		0.32	Sale	WinCo
Pepper		0.68		WinCo
Tomatoes		0.92		WinCo
Coleslaw mix (2)		1.96		WinCo
Tortilla chips		1.23		WinCo
Potato chips		1.53		WinCo
Salad dressing		1.33		WinCo
Salad dressing		1.98		WinCo
Gelatin (2)		1.48		WinCo
Pudding (3)		1.50		WinCo
Mashed potatoes (3)		2.64		WinCo
Pasta (3)		2.40		WinCo
Cocoa		2.99		WinCo
Sweetener		1.96		WinCo
Cream cheese (4)		4.68		WinCo
String cheese (2)		5.36		WinCo
Cream (2)		6.76		WinCo
Ramen (24)		3.96		WinCo
Tomato sauce (3)		1.04		WinCo
Salsa		2.96		WinCo
Parmesan		2.36		WinCo
Olives (2)		1.76		WinCo
Onions - 3#		0.96		WinCo
Ground turkey		2.49		Trader Joes
Breakfast sausage		3.37		Trader Joes
Coconut (2)		3.98		Trader Joes
Avocados (6)		2.99		Trader Joes
Romaine - 3ct		1.99		Trader Joes
Mushrooms		1.79		Trader Joes
Spinach		2.29		Trader Joes
Carrots		1.49		Trader Joes
Green beans		2.79		Trader Joes
Cabbage		1.79		Fred Meyer
Total		186.42

$186.42 ÷ 30 days ÷3 people = $2.07 per person per day!

More markdown bargains on beef steaks!  Yum!

It was a pretty good month again for sales and bargains.  I did go over what I like to by $36.42 but all in all not too bad.  How did you do with your grocery shopping goals?  What great buys did you find?

This budget month runs from April 1 through April 30